RATATOSKR

[soulping]

[There’s room for seven in this weather-worn hut, with seven chairs around a table long enough for seven people.

The center of the table is adorned with wooden jugs of water and wooden snack bowls. It’s primarily fruits and nuts, although there are a couple brimming with Unidentified Raw Meat.]

Comments

[peoplediewhenikillthem]

Maybe we could use both of those to our favor. The team itself seems full of... idiots like Takshaka.

[ Cracking a smirk. ] What do you hate about us, Robin?

[thevoidsdarkhorse]

Wouldn't assume that. Something 'bout some of 'em...

I hate that most of you want me to burden you.

[....]

[WELL]

Honesty affect is defs a goddamn thing!

[peoplediewhenikillthem]

Man, I was hoping for something better than that.

[thevoidsdarkhorse]

You guys got flaws, but it's not like that's unexpected and nothing I really hate. Not like I really go 'round hating for no reason.

What about you?

[peoplediewhenikillthem]

I hate that you guys won't leave anyone behind.

[ Even though they won that game, she's still bothered that she had been 'dead weight' for the end of it. ]

[thevoidsdarkhorse]

[Oh.]

Yeah. Kind of a stupid policy, but I don't think anyone is gonna change it. I won't if I don't have to.

Your turn.

[peoplediewhenikillthem]

So let's make a promise here to each other.

If I'm gonna hold you guys back, you need to be the one to step up to leave me behind.

... I'll do the same for you.

[thevoidsdarkhorse]

....what are we calin' 'holding back?'

I could take being left behind, but I'm pretty damn stubborn about protecting others.

[peoplediewhenikillthem]

Don't be stupid, you know exactly what I mean by holding back.

[ Sternly. ] If it looks like we might lose as a result of the dead weight, leave it behind. It hasn't happened yet, but the way we handle games, it's a possibility.

[thevoidsdarkhorse]

.....

[Sighs.]

Then no.

I can abandon people when it means I can't save others to try to help them or it's hopeless.

But these games don't have high enough stakes to leave people behind for.

[peoplediewhenikillthem]

Then let's promise to never leave anyone behind.

[ It may have been an unspoken promise, but now it's going to be an oath. ]

Yeah? I got your word?

[thevoidsdarkhorse]

....

[Nods.] We'll never leave anyone behind.

Got my word.

[Of course that'll bite her in the ass when she wants to be left behind.]

[peoplediewhenikillthem]

It's a promise.

... so what do you want our team to be? Takshaka's the only one with a real theme I've seen.

[thevoidsdarkhorse]

...

[Deep breathe. Let's it out.]

I want us to be a team where all of us feel like we can belong and trust each other.

How about you?

[peoplediewhenikillthem]

It'd be nice if we were a team that could keep our shit under control.

[ They do all right, but there's a lot of stresses that could break them apart easily. ]

In front of others is one thing, but we also gotta keep everyone together when we're not in a game.

[thevoidsdarkhorse]

...yeah. [Has...noticed that.]

Hmm, I haven't done memories at all.

So something I'm looking forward to is remembering my mom and future daughter.

....I'm....not looking forward to when my mom died the first time.

[peoplediewhenikillthem]

You feel pretty strongly for family, don't you?

[ A shame she suspects that she doesn't herself. ]

... You said you're not looking forward to remembering that, huh? I'm not looking forward to ...

[ Gulp. ] Finding out if I killed Slick.

[thevoidsdarkhorse]

I do. [So many strong family feels.]

....

[Surprised for a moment, but then....there's a tension that was there that's good.]

[Nods.] What haven't you got on the list. [Won't press her about it.]